Swiss and KLM boost trend to reconnect Europe with China

Swiss and KLF are the latest European airlines to announce increasing or restarting flights to China.

Swiss revealed it would be commencing flights for the first time since April 2022 while KLF are increasing the number of services each week.

Citing the easing of travel restrictions Swiss confirmed Zurich would be reconnected with Shanghai from March 3, 2023, initially with a weekly service.

Service on the route will then be expanded to three times a week from April onwards.

In addition, Swiss will also be increasing its service to and from Hong Kong from five to six times a week in the summer 2023 schedules.

“We’re delighted that we’ll soon be providing our customers with flights between Zurich and Shanghai again,” said Siss Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “It’s a high priority for us to meet the demand that is now growing again for travel between these two major business centres and beyond.”

Changes to KLF’s schedule will begin on March 26 with six non-stop flights to both Beijing and Shanghai, which will increase to daily services in May.

KLM will also operate a service three times a week from Amsterdam to Hong Kong.

Swiss and KLM’s announcement comes just days after British Airways and Virgin Atlantic revealed they were also resuming flights to China.